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EMF-protection sleep study near mobile phone base stations

EMF-Protektions-Schlafstudie in der Nähe von Mobilfunk-Basisstationen

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Zusammenfassung

In einer Crossover-Studie wurde die mögliche kausale Rolle hochfrequenter (HF) elektromagnetischer Felder (EMF) für Schlafstörungen in den Schlafzimmern von 43 elektrosensiblen Probanden (26 Frauen und 17 Männer) untersucht. Dabei wurde mit einem neuartigen Studienansatz und mobilen Schirmen Schlafparameteränderungen nicht in Bezug auf zusätzliche, sondern auf den Schutz vor vorhandenen Immissionen untersucht. In zufälliger Reihenfolge wurden dazu drei Bedingungen (Kontrolle, Sham-Schirm und Verum-Schirm) getestet. Die Schirmbedingungen waren einfach-blind, um jeweils die Schirmqualität überprüfen zu können, die Auswertung erfolgte doppelblind durch ein unabhängiges Auswerteteam. Die hochfrequenten Immissionen wurden kontinuierlich und frequenzselektiv aufgezeichnet. Insgesamt wurden 465 Nächte durch Morgenfragebögen und polysomnographische Aufzeichnungen erfasst. Die gepoolte Analyse zeigte keine statistisch signifikanten EMF-abhängigen Veränderungen der Schlafparameter, weder von der gesamten HF-EMF-Immission noch vom Mobilfunkanteil. Die Probanden-spezifische Auswertung zeigte bei der überwiegenden Mehrheit der Probanden keine statistisch signifikanten Effekte. Bei sieben Probanden (16 %) zeigten sich signifikante Placebo-Effekte bei subjektiven Schlafparametern, vier Probanden (9 %) zeigten jedoch konsistent statistisch signifikante Verlängerungen von Latenzzeiten, für die Einschlaflatenz zum Stadium 1 bis zu 36,8 min (Median der ungeschirmten Nächte 4,7 min), die Latenz vom Stadium 1 bis Stadium 2 bis 3,8 min (Median 2,3 min), vom Stadium 2 bis Stadium 3 bis 18,0 min (Median 8,0 min). Die Verlängerung der REM-Latenz betrug bis zu 160,0 min (Median 85,8 min).

Summary

In a crossover field study the potential role of radio frequency (RF) electromagnetic fields (EMF) in causing sleep disturbances was investigated in sleeping rooms of 43 volunteers (26 women and 17 men) attributing their sleep problems to RF-EMF from mobile telecommunication base stations. With a new approach of protection from rather than provocation to RF-EMF exposure potential sleep parameter changes were investigated. With mobile shields three conditions (true-shield, sham-shield and control) were tested in random order. Shielding conditions were single-blind to allow controlling shielding efficiency while data analysis was performed double-blind by an independent team. RF-EMF immissions were continuously recorded frequency-selectively. In total, 465 nights were assessed by morning questionnaires and polysomnographic recordings. Pooled analysis did not exhibit statistically significant EMF-dependent sleep parameters, neither on total RF-EMF immissions nor on base station signals. Volunteer-specific analysis mostly did not show any significant effect on sleep parameters. Subjective sleep parameters of seven volunteers (16 %) exhibited significant placebo effects. However, four volunteers (9 %) showed consistent statistical significant prolongations of sleep latencies: for sleep onset latency to sleep stage 1 it was up to 36.8 min (median of unshielded nights 4.7 min), from sleep stage 1 to sleep stage 2 up to 3.8 min ( median 2.3 min) and from sleep stage 2 to 3 up to 18.0 min (median 8.0 min). REM latency was prolonged up to 160.0 min (median 85.8 min).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Health Care Engineering, Graz University of Technology, Inffeldgasse 18, 8010, Graz, Austria

    Norbert Leitgeb, Jörg Schröttner & Roman Cech

  2. Sleep Laboratory, University Paediatric Clinic, Graz, Austria

    Reinhold Kerbl

Authors
  1. Norbert Leitgeb
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  2. Jörg Schröttner
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  3. Roman Cech
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  4. Reinhold Kerbl
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Correspondence to Norbert Leitgeb.

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Leitgeb, N., Schröttner, J., Cech, R. et al. EMF-protection sleep study near mobile phone base stations. Somnologie 12, 234–243 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11818-008-0353-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11818-008-0353-9

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